Tyler County Booster - Local News
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Sheriff fears foul play in Chester mother, son disappearance

Tyler County Booster

Tyler County Sheriff ’s department has been searching for Lettie Fisher, age 79, of Chester and son John Fisher, Jr., age 31, since Thursday, September 22 when her abandoned grey Toyota 4Runner was discovered by a Park Ranger from the Corp of Engineers. According to reports, the park ranger noticed the vehicle Monday. “It is normal for people to park their vehicles at Dam B while they are fishing,” said Sheriff David Hennigan. The Park Ranger was off work Tuesday and Wednesday and when he returned to work Thursday, the vehicle was still there in the same location. The Fishers belongings were in the vehicle, including Mrs. Fisher’s purse. This is when Tyler County Sheriff ’s Department was notified. Fisher’s husband of 42 years, John Fisher, age 62 of Chester, was contacted by the Sheriff ’s Department. He explained that his wife and son commonly left home for several days at a time and he had not been worried about them. According to reports, the mother and son would enjoy fishing at Dam B, then travel to Lake Charles, Louisiana to have fun for a few days and spend time with relatives that live in the area. Then, they would come home. The Fisher’s son has special needs and wears a prosthetic leg. The search for the pair began with Tyler County Sheriff ’s Deputies and the Tyler County Search and Rescue team on the ground in the Bar Pitts vicinity of Dam B at Magnolia Ridge. “Soon after the search on foot began, we called in the canine officers from Texas Department of Criminal Justice Gib Lewis unit and the cadaver canines from the Winn Unit of TDCJ on Friday,” said Sheriff David Hennigan. Also assisting in the search was the National Parks Service. It has been reported that several of Mrs. Fisher’s former students from Chester ISD have helped with the search. Over the weekend, the Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter was brought in to fly over the area. “This is one of the most extensive search and rescues I have been involved with in my career,” said Hennigan. “We brought in the Texas EquuSearch boat with the side sonar and also a team of divers with underwater cameras.” On Monday, the canines were brought in again to search the area. At 4:30 p.m. on Monday, The Tyler County Sheriff ’s department made the decision to refocus their investigation. “We have determined that they are not in this location after a five day search and we are going to have to consider foul play,” said Hennigan. “I will keep officers at Dam B while we begin to look elsewhere, just in case something turns up in the area where their vehicle was abandoned.” Investigators know the pair visited a convenience store in Corrigan on Monday morning September 22 and also the Exxon station at Dam B the same day. “If anyone has any information on Mrs. Fisher or John, Jr., please contact the Tyler County Sheriff ’s Department,” said Hennigan.